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Source: Lakers, Mavs Maneuvering For Kevin Love

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 30: Kevin Love #42 of the Minnesota Timberwolves boxes out Shawn Marion #0 of the Dallas Mavericks on December 30, 2013 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)

Love will be a free agent in 2015, and it is widely known around the league that he and his agent, New York-based Jeff Schwartz, are determined to get him to a major market. The Lakers, Love’s first choice, “have the best shot” of landing the Southern California native, one person familiar with the player’s thinking said. There is no incentive in the CBA for Love to sign an extension with Minnesota before he has a chance to decline his player option and hit the open market in July 2015.

Giving up significant assets for Love would be problematic for any team that isn’t confident it will be able to sign him when he becomes a free agent. That is obviously not an issue for the Lakers.